Hong Kong Protestors Demand More English Classes

by Jordan Yerman | June 3, 2007 at 05:56 am

285 views | 0 Recommendations | 0 comments

Hong Kong, one of the world's business epicenters, thrives in Chinese and English; however, there are evidently not enough spots English-language schools to accommodate those who aspire towards a university education, particularly immigrants who do not speak either Cantonese or English as a primary language.

A small group of protesters of South Asian origin have marched through central Hong Kong demanding more schooling in the English language.

They say they are increasingly forced into Chinese-language schools due to a lack of places in English schools.

Many of the marchers have lived in Hong Kong for generations and so are Hong Kong residents who should have equal rights to education.

The handful of demonstrators marched on the central government offices.

Daily struggle

Carrying banners written in Chinese and English, they called for the provision of more schools teaching in the English language.

Currently there are not enough English language places in schools and they say they are losing out in examination results and chances to go to university because they are forced to go to classes conducted in Chinese.